A joint report by the agencies calls for stricter regulations to keep seaweed sustainable.

Seaweed aquaculture was meant to decrease reliance on fisheries. The agencies are concerned increased demand over the past decade will have an environmental impact.

Concerns include the introduction of nonindigenous species, an increase in disease and farms’ vulnerable to natural disasters. The illegal use of pesticides also is a concern.

In addition to advocating for regulations, the agencies also believe there needs to be more genetic diversity in seaweed.

“Future challenges include: technical improvements in increasing the genetic diversity of cultivars, breeding new disease-resistant strains and establishing disease-free ‘seed-banks’ or nurseries to assist with the restocking of sites where the crop has been lost to disease,” the report said.